My Mute Bride

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

on a stone table and opened it. Before she could even offer some to anyone, a group

is

lifted a knife and a paper plate,

some candles out of a box to the side. “Today is Miss Rachel’s birthday. Before she treats you all to some cake, what should we

to be a little girl in pigtails,

the ‘Happy Birthday’

close her eyes and

blow out the

her head to indicate to Julian that there was no need to

still lit the candles and had the children sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in unison. The delicate chorus of young voices would have

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

mommy says you have to say it in your

little girl who wasn’t even at table height yet looking up at her with pretty, sparkling

the children, clasped her hands and made a wish. After that, she blew

say thank you!” their

icing on each other’s faces. Just like that,

smiled for the first time

to be so courteous with me.” Walking her back to her apartment building, Julian continued, “The most important thing right now is to take care of your body and your

know. Don’t worry about me. I never wanted it, anyway, so I might as well pretend

her, “Go on upstairs, then. It’s been getting colder lately, so make sure to keep

and

was inside her apartment and about

a loud slam, the door was propped open by a

made all the more

out on

into the house and shut the door before surveying

you’ve been getting along fine

she took two steps back. Why are

toward her as he pulled off his necktie and threw it

as he sneered, “I suppose you wouldn’t

he approached her, forcing her back

no idea

he caught hold of her arm and pulled, she staggered after